Supercars returns to New Zealand tomorrow, with Taupō hosting two 200km races this Saturday and Sunday.
It's the first taste Kiwis have had of the Supercars in two years after Pukekohe ended its hosting of races in 2022.
Four-time Bathurst champion Greg Murphy reflected on how important it is for Supercars organisers to reward Kiwi race fans with an event.
"Supercars is huge in New Zealand and they realise how big a deal the fan base is here in New Zealand and they know it needs to be honoured with an event," he said.
The racing event was kick-started in Taupō on Thursday evening with a new tradition, as drivers took their cars to the main streets of the town to show them off to fans.
Murphy said he is delighted to see the positive reaction to the Taupō event after being starved of Supercars racing in 2023.
"You could see how pumped the drivers were yesterday. They got to drive into town in their cars and there were thousands of people in the town centre welcoming Supercars to the region and it was just an epic moment," Murphy said.
Five New Zealand drivers will feature in the main event, hoping to do well in front of a huge home crowd.
Penrite Racing's Kiwi combo of Richie Stanaway and Matthew Payne are currently sitting in sixth and seventh in the standings after three rounds and are the most likely New Zealand drivers to finish in a podium position.
Payne said he is looking forward to racing in front of a home crowd for the first time since 2022.
"There's some added excitement and a little bit of pressure but it's also really cool just to be driving in front of the Kiwi fans and trying to make them proud," he said.
"I'm hoping to see people shouting and getting behind the sport and really making it what it was before."
Supercars chief operating officer Tim Watsford said the engagement from Kiwi fans has been great and is impressed with how fast the two race days sold out.
"It's amazing to be back. It's been a journey and we've had months worth of planning since we left Pukekohe."
Kiwi race fans will also be treated to performances by Kaylee Bell and Six60 across the race weekend.
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